Allegra's Dream (Avador Book 4, a Books We Love Fantasy Romance) (9 page)

“After dark. I’ll go downstairs shortly, ask the guard if he’s seen any strangers lurking. I assume these assassins are from Fomoria. Who but the war faction would want your. . . demise? And what about this prince you once spoke of?”

“I know very little about him, only what my father told me years ago.” She drew a deep breath. “So much I don’t know.”

“Nor I, except that you must not suffer peril.” He wanted to go to her, hold her close to his heart, tell her she had nothing to fear. But she had much to fear, no denying that.

“One thing I wanted to ask you,” she said, “if something detained you in Fomoria when you went to deliver the letters. I expected you back sooner.”

“Sick,” he said. “I, who have rarely been sick in my life, was struck with a lung illness that started as a cold. But I’m fine now.”

“I’m so sorry you were sick.” She smiled then, a smile that went straight to his heart. “And very glad you are better now.”

He looked out the wide window at the gathering darkness, aware they should leave soon. Turning from the window, he grabbed a tinder box and moved about the room, lighting the beeswax candles. That done, he clenched his hands, but quickly loosened them, hoping and praying to the Goddess that all would go well, that their journey to the Otherworld would keep her free from danger.

He thought back over her arrival in Avador. In hindsight, he realized that she should have been taken to a nondescript abode, a place that no one would ever suspect of harboring a princess. Not a palace.

He sighed. “My lady, I’ve considered all possibilities for keeping you safe. For now, I think the Otherworld is best.”

“But what do you know about this. . .Otherworld?” she asked, her voice rising. “How long will we stay there?”

“As long as we need.” But how long would that be? He didn’t know! What if they returned from the Otherworld, only to find that the princess was still in danger? Wanting to ease her mind, he related what he’d read in “Tales from the Otherworld.” He hoped that other place would prove to be as agreeable and pleasant as the library book had described it, that they would find abundant fruit and other foods, but most of all, that they would be free from danger.

He brought his mind back to the here and now. “My lady, best that we eat a bite before we leave.”

Lightly, she touched her stomach. “Don’t think I could eat anything.”

“Please, you will need sustenance before we start out. It will take over an hour before we reach the entrance to our destination. Once there, we will find plenty to eat.”

She sat upright. “How do you know this?”

He shrugged. “I told you about the library book, remember?” He’d always heard that fruits, nuts, and all manner of food grew there in abundance. “Enough talk for now.” He stood and headed for the kitchen. There, he set a kettle over the fire to boil water for tea. He set out a loaf of oat bread and gathered cheese and ham from the cold box.

A short while later, after they had finished a simple meal, he put the dishes in a tin tub of soapy water, then they returned to the sitting room. He approached her, sensing her fear, wishing he could ease her trepidation. “My lady, I’m going downstairs to talk to the guard, ensure that no strangers lurk on the streets. Be back shortly.”

“Very well.” She watched him leave, too well aware that once more, she remained at the mercy of someone who had the power to determine her destiny. Yet she saw no alternate course.  Since the assassins knew where she resided, they would return time and again until they had accomplished their goal. Someday, she vowed, she would be her own mistress, would determine her own fate and not depend on anyone else. May that day come soon.

Her thoughts segued to the journey they were about to undertake. What if time passed differently in the Otherworld? What if they returned and found that years had gone by, that Elsa had passed on, gone herself to that strange land?

Distant memories surfaced, tales her nurse had told her in childhood. Yes, there was a difference in time, but not a great one. Or so her nurse had said. But who was to know for certain?  What was it like in the Otherworld? she wondered. What if–

The door opened, and she jerked, brought back to reality. Rowan entered, his face revealing the solemnity of their planned journey. She looked around, wondering if they should take anything.

It seemed he could read her mind. “No need to take anything,” he said, touching the sword at his side. “Only this weapon, should it prove necessary. I’m quite skilled with the sword.”

Her heart pounded. “Prove necessary? Are we trading one danger for another?”

“Let’s hope not, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. I’ve ever heard that all is pleasant in the Otherworld, a place of wonder and beauty. May it be so.”

Chapter Twelve

“By now, all of you surely understand why I called this meeting.” Prince Arnou’s gaze covered each of his retainers. “The good news is , we all know that Princess Allegra lives. You have all received her letters?” Silent nods gave him his answer. “Who brought these letters from Avador must remain a mystery for now. The important thing is, we know the princess is alive. But for how long? I haven’t heard any news from the men I sent to Avador. Don’t know if they reached her by now or if they’ve been able to persuade her to return to our country. So much we don’t know! Like working in the dark.” He sighed, letting silent moments pass.

“Sir,” one of his men spoke. “All of us here could raise an army. We could each contribute enough men to overthrow the war faction–“

”I’ve thought of that, Mallory. And when the time is right, that’s what I intend to do. But to attempt an overthrow now, I fear such a course wouldn’t be accepted by the people. It would lack legitimacy,” he said, smiling to himself.  Ah, yes, legitimacy. “I want to wait for the princess’s return and seek her hand in marriage. Then we will overthrow the warmongers and bring peace to the land.”

Another advisor spoke. “But surely, sir, the people would prefer your rule to the uncertainty that exists today. Besides that, already the war faction is making menacing moves toward the gold mines that lie between our country and Elegia. I’ve heard they are preparing to send miners into that area. And you know Elegia will never permit mining there. I feel certain the people would prefer you to more war between our countries.”

“Maybe, maybe not. I don’t want to take a chance on overthrowing the war faction–if indeed, that is possible now–only to find that the people won’t accept my rule.” He shook his head. “No, let us hope that Princess Allegra will return to us soon. I will propose marriage to her, and I see no reason why she wouldn’t accept my offer. Then we can rule together. Later. . .” He sighed again. “Later, if something happens to the princess–if the assassins succeed–then I’ll attempt an overthrow of the cabal. For now, I’m willing to bide my time. But not for long. Let’s hope that Princess Allegra will soon return to us, safe and unharmed.”

* * *

“Time to leave, my lady.”

“Yes.” Aware she’d gain nothing by further protest, Allegra rose from her chair and assumed a look of calm acceptance, even though every fiber of her being rebelled against this journey they were about to undertake. Doubts and fears consumed her, but she refused to show any weakness. While Rowan snuffed out the candles, she smiled, attempting to convince herself that this trip would be a new experience, one she’d remember for the rest of her life.

He returned the smile and reached for her hand. “Let us leave, then.”

They walked out of the apartment, and Rowan locked the door behind them. She steeled herself for the ride down in the moving room; she must adjust to the use of magic in this foreign land. But oh, it wasn’t easy.

Outside, a balmy night greeted them, clouds hiding the moon and stars.  Rowan helped her mount her horse astride, and within a short time, they left the city. She shuddered, a hundred questions plaguing her, but she concealed her trepidation. She recognized that Rowan was making this sacrifice for her, that this journey wasn’t something he was forced to accomplish, but rather, that he was doing everything possible to protect her. His sacrifice meant so much to her; someday she must tell him so.

They cantered for a short while, then galloped as they entered the countryside with its fresh aroma of soil and springtime crops. The air was still, the only sound that of barking dogs as they rode past isolated farms. Despite the reason for this journey, she gloried in Rowan’s nearness. Their speed rendered casual talk impossible, but she had so many things she wanted to say to him, words she’d kept in her heart for so long. She wondered if they would ever have a chance to enjoy their time together, a time when she was free of danger. To be just a man and a woman who cared for each other. Cared for each other. Did he care for her, or was he only performing his duty? Besides, whenever she wed, she must marry into royalty. When this trouble was past–if ever no peril threatened her–she would leave Rowan. She had her life to live and he had his. Yet he meant so much to her, a song in her heart, always a lift to her spirits. A wave of sorrow overcame her, the sure knowledge that they would eventually go their separate ways. Someday, too, she would decide her own destiny and not depend on anyone else. All these thoughts went quickly through her mind, for she remained alert to any danger that might befall them.

Determined to discard her despondency, she breathed in deeply of the scent of strawberries that lingered in the air. A strong wind erupted and swept across the land, whipping the branches of trees, blowing dust in their faces.

Leaving farmland behind, they entered a vast plain, with only an occasional tree. “No crops can grow here,” Rowan said, “land’s too rocky.”

Soon, another sound chilled her. Hoof beats! She turned and looked behind her. Two horsemen, closing the distance between them. Oh, no, no! “Rowan, they’re following us again!”

He turned, his face betraying his shock. They whipped their horses, their speed increasing. Still, the assassins remained on their tail. These men had been following them somewhere back, she assumed, and had narrowed the distance between them. The wind had muffled the sound of their hoof beats. If she and Rowan had stayed at his apartment, would she have been safe? She didn’t know!

“We’ll get you this time, Princess Allegra!” The assassins were gaining on them!

Her heart pounded; her skin ice cold. She clenched her teeth so tight, her jaw ached; her fingers felt frozen to the reins. The horse straining, she felt his muscles bunching beneath her thighs.

An arrow whizzed past, so close she felt the draft of air. Cold fear sent chills racing across her body. She had to escape, had to! She would not let them end her life. She had so much to live for, so much to do! Faster, faster, they must go faster.

The wind died down almost as soon as it had started, and a thick fog rolled in.

She saw Rowan looking right and left. “Soon, my lady! Soon, we will be there.” She looked behind her, the assassins now only vague shadows. Would she and Rowan make it? Ah, they must!

“What are we looking for?” she asked, her breath coming in gasps.

“Thick stones that form an arch.”

She heard the hoofbeats of the horsemen behind her, yet they remained invisible. She breathed a long sigh of relief, and yet were they safe now?

The fog lifted slightly. Up ahead, two thick stones stood upright, a thick slab atop them. “There! There we are!”

Forced to slow their horses, she feared the assassins would soon be upon them. Rowan slid off his horse and grabbed her, setting her on the ground. An arrow hit the dirt beside her. Terror chilled her body, the ground tilting around her.

Rowan slapped the horses to send them back, then reached for her hand.

They stepped into a chasm and went down, down, down.

Then, nothingness.

Chapter Thirteen

After a brief period of oblivion– a time of darkness in which all sight and sound disappeared–Rowan landed with Allegra on a velvety green carpet, each blade of grass alive and vibrant. Within seconds, glorious images emerged–trees, flowers, an expansive blue lake, the water gleaming like crystal. Aromas, too, teased his nose, beautiful fragrances, exotic yet familiar scents that reminded him of the lush abundance of Avador, but magnified a hundred, a thousand, times.

He turned toward Allegra and grinned, wondering if she felt the same awe and fascination as he did. Catching her smile in response, he held her close, scarcely believing that they were here, now, in the Otherworld!

“We made it!” he said, laughing at his redundancy. Of course they’d made it. And this was the Otherworld!

She shook her head. “Doesn’t seem possible. And yet we are here! Rowan, you did it! You saved me from the assassins! How can I ever thank you?”

“Um, I’ll think of something.” Ah, if she only knew! His gaze moved from her to this strange land, and he pointed toward the far distance. “Look at those hills!”

“Forested hills, reminding me of Fomoria in the summer, the same yet different.”  She cocked her head to the side. “Do you know what I mean?”

“Yes, I’ve been thinking that, too.” He took a deep breath, overwhelmed with all they’d seen, just in this short amount of time.